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أعلنت مجلة “فرانس فوتبول” منذ قليل، عن هوية الفائز بجائزة كوبا للعام 2025 والتي تمنح لأفضل لاعب شاب.

ويستضيف مسرح “دو شاتليه” في باريس مراسم حفل مجلة “فرانس فوتبول” لتوزيع جوائز الأفضل في العالم لعام 2025، اليوم الإثنين.

طالع مباشر | حفل الكرة الذهبية لعام 2025.. لامين يامال يفوز بجائزة كوبا

وللعام الثاني على التوالي يتوج لامين يامال بجائزة كوبا، حيث كان هو الفائز بها خلال العام الماضي أيضًا.

ونافس على جائزة كوبا هذا العام كل من: 

لامين يامال، برشلونة، منتخب إسبانيا.

باو كوبارسي، برشلونة، منتخب إسبانيا.

أيوب بوعدي، ليل، منتخب فرنسا.

ديزيري دوي، باريس سان جيرمان، منتخب فرنسا.

ستيفاو، تشيلسي، منتخب البرازيل.

دين هويسن، لاعب بورنموث السابق وريال مدريد الحالي، منتخب إسبانيا.

مايلز لويس سكيلي، آرسنال، منتخب إنجلترا.

رودريجو مورا، بورتو، منتخب البرتغال.

جواو نيفيز، باريس سان جيرمان، منتخب البرتغال.

كينان يلدز، يوفنتوس، منتخب تركيا.

وحصل على الجائزة، لامين يامال لاعب فريق برشلونة الإسباني، عن أدائه المميز مع فريقه الكتالوني ومنتخب بلاده.

وساعد يامال فريقه برشلونة في التتويج بالدوري الإسباني وكأس ملك إسبانيا وكأس السوبر الإسباني، على حساب الغريم ريال مدريد.

شارك يامال الموسم الماضي في 55 مباراة بجميع المسابقات، وسجل 18 هدفًا وساهم في صناعة 25 هدفًا بتمريراته الحاسمة.

وقال يامال عقب تتويجه بالجائزة: “يشرفني أن أكون هنا مرة أخرى، أود أن أشكر برشلونة والمنتخب الوطني، وكذلك عائلتي، لا أريد أن أنسى زملائي في الفريق، مثل كوبارسي ورافينها، اللذين نراهما هنا أيضًا”.

وسُئل إذا كان على استعداد للوقوف على المسرح مرة أخرى اليوم (إشارة للتتويج بالكرة الذهبية)، ورد: “لا أعرف إن كنت مستعدًا للجائزة الكبرى (يضحك) ربما نلتقي لاحقًا”. Myles Lewis-Skelly#TrophéeKopa #ballondor pic.twitter.com/pYRe4DltsF

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 22, 2025

South Africa earned a consolation win to end their three-match series against Afghanistan 2-1 as they completed their ninth successful chase in 22 matches since 2021. After being outplayed in the first two games, South Africa finally arrived in the contest via their bowlers and fielders who dismissed Afghanistan in 34 overs and left their batters a small total to chase.Aiden Markram scored his first ODI fifty in 10 innings and shared a 90-run fourth-wicket stand with Tristan Stubbs. Stubbs’ ODI career is only four matches old and importantly for him, he was able to bat time and finish the match.In the absence of Rashid Khan, who tweaked his hamstring in the second match, and Fazalhaq Faooqi, who was rested, Afghanistan’s attack lacked some intensity but they did not have as much to work with as they would have liked after the batting blunders. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the only member of Afghanistan’s top eight who scored more than 10, once again holding their innings together. He fell 11 short of a second successive ODI century and extended his lead at the top of the series run-scorers charts. AM Ghazanfar, batting at No.9, contributed 31 off 15 balls to give South Africa a target of 170. They got there in 33 overs.South Africa’s energy came from a good new-ball combination of Lungi Ngidi and Bjorn Fortuin, and in the field. Run-outs accounted for three of the first five Afghanistan wickets and gave South Africa an edge they lacked in the previous two matches.Ngidi was excellent upfront, with his range of cutters and slower balls and got an early breakthrough when debutant opener Abdul Malik played all around a straight delivery and was pinned on the pad. Arguably, Ngidi made a more important breakthrough in his next over, when Gurbaz drove him aerially, he stuck out his right hand and the ball clipped his finger and ricocheted off Rahmat Shah and onto the stumps. Rahmat, at the non-striker’s end, was short of his ground.While Rahmat was sloppy in getting back in time, Hashmatullah Shahidi’s lack of urgency was worse. He hit Markam behind square and called for two but ran the second too slowly and veered off a straight line to give Stubbs enough time at sweeper cover to throw to Kyle Verreynne and run the Afghanistan captain out. Things got worse in the next over when legspinner Nqaba Peter bowled Azmatullah Omarzai.Rahmanullah Gurbaz waged a lone battle at the top•ACB

By then, Gurbaz had already brought up a 47-ball 50, laced with his characteristic clean hitting down the ground and on the leg side. He dealt with the wickets by batting as normally as possible, even as he grew frustrated with his partner’s mistakes. Ikram Alikhil was next to misjudge when Gurbaz bottom-edged a pull off Markram to midwicket, leaving no time for a single. Alikhil was halfway down the wicket when Gurbaz sent him back but Temba Bavuma was onto the ball and ran Alikhil out.Mohammad Nabi was Afghanistan’s last recognised batter and South Africa kept him quiet and should have him out for 5 when he missed a Bjorn Fortuin arm ball. South Africa didn’t review but replayed showed he would have been out lbw. In Fortuin’s next over, he got his own back when Nabi edged him to Verreynne and Bavuma reviewed successfully.Gurbaz’s push for a century ended when he tried to hit Andile Phehlukwayo over extra cover and was well caught by Reeza Hendricks diving forward to leave Afghanistan 133 for 7. Phehlukwayo took a second wicket in three balls before Ngidi and Peter got rid of the tail. Afghanistan left 16 overs out there and will be disappointed with their capitulation after two dominant performances earlier in the week.South Africa’s batting has been their downfall throughout the series and although improved, did not always look convincing. Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi were tentative against left-armer Naveed Zadran at first and Bavuma almost chopped on in the third over. But when they got hold of the 19-year-old, they capitalised. De Zorzi smashed him past mid-off for the innings’ first boundary and Bavuma pulled him through mid-wicket later in the same over. He also took on Ghazanfar to suggest South Africa had done some work on their approach to spin, but de Zorzi underlined the old problems. He hit a sweep off Nabi straight to Hashmatullah at square leg and the captain put it down and then sent the next ball to cover, where Omarzai could not hold on.In the next over, Bavuma played Ghazanfar down the wrong line and was bowled and the over after that, de Zorzi gave Ghazanfar a return chance but the ball bounced just in front of him. Just when it seemed de Zorzi’s charmed life knew no end, he stayed back in his crease against Nabi and was trapped lbw.Reeza Hendricks’ lean run continued when he top-edged Fareed Ahmad to depart for a third score under 20 this series. In his last 15 white-ball internationals, Hendricks has only gone past 20 three times.Markram took it on himself to anchor the rest of the chase and also provided experienced counsel for Stubbs. The pair built slowly at first and minimised risk but also picked their moments to attack. Markam scored the first boundary in 10 overs when he slog-swept Nangeyalia Kharote and then drove him through the covers. Then it was back to singles until Stubbs pulled Fareed behind square. Markram’s aggression against spin came out when he hit Nabi for two sixes in an over. He brought up 50 off 54 balls and ended unbeaten on 69 off 67 balls. Stubbs reviewed successfully when he was given out lbw to Fareed on 18 and saw South Africa through to the end.

Southampton are now “interested” in signing a £400k+ defender who has been likened to Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph has revealed.

Still overseeing major rebuild at St. Mary's

The Saints came from behind to defeat National League side Eastleigh in their first pre-season friendly, with Adam Armstrong and Cameron Archer getting on the scoresheet, but new manager Will Still has insisted he is still very much in the process of a rebuild.

Still said: “I think there are a lot of things to learn. We’re going to have to work incredibly hard and we’re not going to walk over any opposition, you can see that it’s a team in the middle of a complete reconstruction.

“We’re restructuring the identity and style of play and after 10 to 11 days training we’ve seen a lot of positive things as well as things we have to work on.”

Related Southampton plot approach for £10m maestro who may jump at St. Mary's move

The Saints have set their sights on a midfielder…

Posts ByDominic Lund Jul 1, 2025

Of course, Still’s main ambition next season will be to lead his side to promotion from the Championship, but he may have to bolster his backline if they are to achieve that goal, having shipped 86 goals in the Premier League last term.

Southampton have already made one new addition at centre-back, securing the signing of Joshua Quarshie from Hoffenheim, and they have now joined the race for another, according to an update from Joseph on X.

The Sky Sports reporter claims the Saints are now “interested” in signing Volendam centre-back Xavier Mbuyamba, and there are positive signs that a deal could be possible, with the Dutch club “keen” to cash-in on the defender this summer.

However, Watford are also interested in the centre-back, while Fabrizio Romano has revealed the likes of Gent and Rangers could also provide competition for his signature, and the transfer expert believes his price tag will be around the €500k (£434k) mark.

"Dominant" Mbuyamba could excel at St. Mary's

Earlier on in his career, the Volendam defender was often compared to Van Dijk, perhaps given that he is a “dominant” figure in defence, according to scout Jacek Kulig, who also praised him for his tackling and heading ability.

However, after coming through the youth ranks at Barcelona, before going on to sign for Chelsea, the Dutch defender’s career probably hasn’t panned out how he would’ve hoped, but there are signs he is now ready to test himself properly in England.

During his time with Volendam, the Maastricht-born ace has established himself as a key player, making 62 Eredivisie appearances across the past two seasons, and showcasing his attacking threat by scoring ten goals.

At 23-years-old, Mbuyamba still has plenty of time to fulfill his potential, and for a fee of around £434k he could be a bargain signing for Southampton this summer.

Next season is set to be another new dawn for Tottenham Hotspur.

Daniel Levy and Co. made what looks to have been the unpopular decision to sack Ange Postecoglou last Friday and, in his place, hire Thomas Frank.

While fans might’ve liked the club to back the manager who ended their trophy drought, the Danish coach is an exciting appointment, as he took Brentford up from the Championship and turned them into one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League.

Unsurprisingly, then, the North Londoners have been linked with one of the Bees’ best players, Bryan Mbeumo, but if reports are to be believed, they could decide to sign someone else, someone better.

Tottenham Transfer news

Before getting to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other talented players touted for a move to Spurs in recent weeks, like Eberechi Eze and Xavi Simons.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The former has been a long-term target for the North Londoners, and while his £68m release clause would represent a significant investment, his tally of 14 goals and 11 assists in 43 games this season suggest he’d be more than worth it.

Likewise, the £67m it would reportedly take to secure Simons’ services this summer may sound like a lot – because it is – but when you consider he’s still just 22 years old and was able to score 11 goals and provide eight assists in just 33 games this year, it doesn’t sound so bad.

However, another Premier League-proven attacker has entered the frame for the North Londoners, someone who could be better than Mbeumo: Antoine Semenyo.

Yes, according to a recent report from Sky Sports, Spurs have maintained their intense interest in the Bournemouth star, even though that interest originated prior to Postecoglou’s sacking.

The report does not mention a potential price for the Cherries ace, but stories from earlier this month claimed that he could be available for close to £70m.

It would likely be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line this summer, but given Semenyo’s immense ability, it’s one Spurs should be all over, especially as he could be an even better signing than Mbeumo.

How Semenyo compares to Mbeumo

Okay, so we know that Mbeumo is one of the most talked-about targets in England at the moment, and understandably so, as in 42 appearances this season, he was able to score 20 goals and provide nine assists.

But for our money, Semenyo would be the better signing, and there are several reasons why.

Firstly, while he wasn’t able to produce quite as many goal involvements, the Ghanaian international was still an incredibly effective attacker, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists in as many appearances for Bournemouth.

Moreover, as we all know, a winger is and should be judged on more metrics than just his goals and assists in the modern game, and when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers, the Cherries ace starts to come out on top.

For example, while the former Troyes gem does better in some metrics like shot and goal-creating actions as well as progressive passes, the former Bristol City star comes out on top in the majority of relevant metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots and shots on target, passing accuracy, tackles and more, all per 90.

Semenyo vs Mbeumo
Statistics	Semenyo	Mbeumo
Non-Penalty Expected G+As	0.44	0.42
Progressive Passes	3.06	3.72
Progressive Carries	3.93	3.43
Shots	3.49	2.08
Shots on Target	1.11	0.94
Passing Accuracy	73.4%	66.1%
Non-Penalty xG	0.28	0.20
Shot-Creating Actions	3.71	3.80
Goal-Creating Actions	0.37	0.53
Tackles	1.54	1.29
Blocks	1.88	0.69
Successful Take-Ons	1.94	1.37
Ball Recoveries	4.44	4.12
Aerial Duels Won	1.85	0.90
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 EPL Season

Moreover, on top of being the more statistically well-rounded player, the 25-year-old “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is incredibly versatile.

For example, thanks to him being ambipedal – equally able to use both feet – he’s more than happy playing off the right as he is on the left and can even play up top or in midfield if he’s needed to.

Therefore, the dynamic “maverick,” as dubbed by Mattinson, could come in and fill in wherever he’s needed, in turn giving Frank far more tactical flexibility than he’d get from someone only dangerous off the right.

Ultimately, either Mbeumo or Semenyo would be excellent additions for Spurs, but thanks to the latter having the more impressive and promising underlying numbers, combined with his ability to play almost anywhere, we reckon he would be the better signing for the North Londoners.

Alongside Son: Frank must axe £165k-per-week Spurs "monster"

It would be best for Spurs to cash in and help Frank kickstart his time at the club.

3

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 13, 2025

After overseeing a third-consecutive promotion to make unforgettable history, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have now reportedly put Wrexham in pole position to sign a clinical MLS talent.

Reynolds & McElhenney full of praise for Parkinson

Whilst it’s Reynolds and McElhenney who steal the headlines, Phil Parkinson is one of the main reasons why Wrexham find themselves in the Championship from National League frustration. The experienced manager will forever be a legend at the Welsh club and is now set to take charge of a side in England’s second tier for the first time since Bolton Wanderers in the 2018/2019 campaign.

Reynolds and McElhenney are well aware of their manager’s impact too. The former told reporters after promotion was sealed: “You can look at so many beating hearts at the club but it all goes back to Phil, I mean the leadership in that locker room and we thankfully don’t make football decisions but the faith that the club has in Phil and the community has in him speaks volumes.”

McElhenney then added onto that by saying: “In Phil we trust and Ryan and I always find it silly that at the end of the games it’s us standing here with microphones because we’re not the ones out here on the pitch doing the work.”

Alas, the Hollywood stars are far from finished even after securing a place in the Championship. They, alongside Parkinson, will have their sights set on causing their biggest upset yet in the Championship, and the summer transfer window is likely to play a large part in that.

Wrexham lead Sunusi Ibrahim race

According to GiveMeSport, Reynolds and McElhenney are now leading the race to sign Sunusi Ibrahim for Wrexham this summer. The Montreal talent is reportedly valued between $300,000 and $500,000 (£222,000-£370,000) this summer and could be on his way to English football after struggling for starts in the MLS.

Although there may be some concerns that Ibrahim, 22, has yet to earn his place in Montreal’s starting side, it must be said that it’s not for the want of trying. The Nigerian has scored seven goals in around 1,000 minutes this season – the same as just over 11 games – but has still been forced to settle for a bench role.

Reynolds and McElhenney plotting Wrexham move to sign "great" 7-goal star

He could be their first Championship signing…

ByTom Cunningham Apr 29, 2025

Whether that starting place would come his way at Wrexham is the big question. Those in Wales can’t risk getting things wrong on the transfer front ahead of their return to England’s second tier and whether they take a risk on an MLS talent remains to be seen.

As ever, of course, Wrexham will be ones to watch when the transfer window swings open amid links to Ibrahim and Cardiff City’s Isaak Davies in recent weeks.

Fabrizio Romano has shared an update on Tottenham Hotspur and their chances of appointing a former Bayern Munich manager who they’ve reportedly contacted.

Tottenham players back Ange Postecoglou amid mounting pressure

Ange Postecoglou faces a very uncertain future in N17, following a disastrous Premier League campaign, where they’ve tasted defeat on 19 occasions in the top flight alone.

Manager open to immediate Tottenham talks after missing out on Man United

He appears pretty keen on Spurs.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 30, 2025

According to The Telegraph, this woeful domestic form means Postecoglou and Spurs could part ways at the end of the season, regardless of their campaign in the Europa League.

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

However, midfielder James Maddison has now publicly backed the 59-year-old, stating that the squad are “100 per cent” behind their head coach despite their “unacceptable” 2024/2025.

“We’re behind the manager, 100 per cent. I think he’s a great man,” said Maddison in a press conference.

“He’s the first person to tell you, I’ve heard it myself, that we’ve had a poor season, especially in the league. We’ve been very good in Europe, but the league season’s probably been unacceptable, and we can all take collective responsibility for that.

“But he’s my manager, he’s my gaffer, I respect him an awful amount.

“The narrative is something that we players try and keep away from because it’s not healthy to read into what you lot are talking about – the manager’s position. I just know that I come into work every day and see the lads listening, taking on the messages, how he wants to play and trying to do what’s best for this club.”

Intense pressure has surrounded the Australian for months, and a succession of managers have been linked as candidates to replace him.

According to reports in Germany last week, one of the names under consideration is Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovac.

The 53-year-old has helped to steady the ship at Dortmund after Nuri Şahin’s dismissal midway through the campaign, and enjoyed previous success at Bayern, where he won a Bundesliga title, DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup.

According to Bild, Tottenham made recent contact with Kovac via an intermediary, and are believed to be big fans of his intense style of play.

Fabrizio Romano shares update on Niko Kovac's links to Tottenham

Following these reports, the reliable Romano has shared an update on Kovac and his links to Spurs.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, the journalist says that nothing is advanced between Kovac and Tottenham just yet, based off the lack of information he’s heard, but he doesn’t entirely rule out the tactician as an option.

“I’m not aware of anything advanced on this one yet,” said Romano.

“Spurs will not make any decision now with the Europa League semi-finals due to start soon.”

The former Croatia captain could be a solid outside candidate, with Kovac attracting praise for his leadership qualities.

“He [Kovac] has experience, he was a very good player and was the captain of the Croatia national team,” said German footballing legend Lothar Matthäus.

“He has charisma, he has passion, he knows about football. He was a leader as a player and is showing this as a coach too.”

A Bundesliga side are “ready” to sign a Rangers star valued at more than £20m this summer, according to a new update.

Rangers exit Europa League as worrying 49ers takeover update shared

The Gers’ hopes of winning the Europa League came to an end on Thursday evening after a 2-0 defeat to Athletic Club. Rangers were hoping that they’d be returning to Bilbao at the end of May for the final, however, goals in either half from Oihan Sanchet and Nico Williams ensured it would be Athletic Club taking on Man Utd in the semi finals.

For those at Ibrox, attention will soon turn to the 2025/26 season, especially as they currently trail Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership by 15 points.

Rangers: Attacking 4-3-3 manager wanted at Ibrox is now "ready" for return

He’s been linked with a move to Glasgow.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 17, 2025

The 49ers Enterprises are currently in the process of completing an Ibrox takeover, however, ex-Aberdeen CEO Keith Wyness has heard that the American investors aren’t aware of how passionate Rangers fans are and are viewing the deal as a “business transaction”.

“I’m hearing some very interesting things from my sources at Rangers this week. They’re saying that the 49ers are looking at this like a business transaction, they don’t really get what they’re going into – in terms of the fans, the sectarian situation and the religious connotations.

“The Rangers fanbase have a massive passion. It’s alright to see it occasionally, but you’ve really got to live in it and get to know it if you’re going to invest like this. It’s an unusual beast and it’s very powerful. What I’m hearing is that the 49ers don’t quite understand that side of it.”

One of the first tasks for the 49ers will be to appoint a new permanent manager, however, they could also lose a number of players.

Recently, Hamza Igamane has been linked with a move away from Glasgow, with Marseille making a serious move. Meanwhile, Leon Balogun is unlikely to be offered a new Rangers contract and looks set to leave for free.

Borussia Monchengladbach “ready” to sign Rangers star Raskin

Now, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, relayed by Sport Witness, Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach are “ready” to sign Rangers star Nicolas Raskin this summer.

Those in Glasgow have recently valued Raskin at more than £20m, and according to Tavolieri, Monchengladbach are prepared to swoop.

He doesn’t state if Rangers are willing to do business, however, Raskin himself recently admitted his desire to “compete at a big club” ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Games

90

Goals

3

Assists

10

Yellow cards

15

“I’ve been here for two and a half years. It’s gone very well for me, especially this season. You have to see what the club wants, what comes on the table, and try to do the best for everyone. As a footballer, you always want to look ahead and see what you can do better.

“If you want to give yourself the best chance of playing in an international competition, you have to be able to compete at a big club. But the goal isn’t to go to a club where you’ll play less and lose that advantage of playing every week. It’s a balancing act that needs to be found.”

A move away from Ibrox could therefore be one to keep an eye on for the Belgium international.

After a decade spent enduring questions from a vocal band of doubters, South Africa’s captain stepped up and let his bat speak for him

Firdose Moonda09-Dec-2024It’s taken 10 years but finally, Temba Bavuma can just talk about his cricket. Or rather, let his cricket do the talking about him.As Player of the Series against Sri Lanka, with 327 runs at an average of 81.75, and as captain of a team that is now one win away from the World Test Championship (WTC) final, Bavuma, for the first time in a long while, does not have to defend either himself or his team in a post-match engagement. Instead, he can soak in the admiration that four back-to-back fifty-plus scores have earned him and the awe of a third successive series win, which has set South Africa up to have their most successful WTC cycle.Related

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Maharaj wraps up 2-0 win to take South Africa to the top of WTC table

WTC final scenarios – South Africa need one more win for guaranteed top-two finish

That’s a remarkable feat considering that South Africa effectively conceded a series earlier in the year when they sent a makeshift side to New Zealand because their front-liners were contractually bound to the SA20. And that’s not the only reason it’s extraordinary. Of all the underdogs at the start of this WTC cycle, South Africa were the runts. Their reputation had diminished from the glory days of the early 2010s, and they were perceived to have lost interest in the longest format because they only had two-Test series scheduled. Bavuma was questioned as a leader because of his persistent run-ins with injuries. Of their eight Tests before this Sri Lanka series, he had only played in three and batted in two. Of the five matches he missed, three were because of injury, and he came into this contest relatively cold, having not played competitive cricket for two months.Against that backdrop, Bavuma reeled off an innings-saving 70 and match-winning 113 at Kingsmead and an energetic 78 and 66 at St George’s Park. What does he say to those who doubted him?”I’m not a vocal person,” he said afterwards. “I believe in letting your bat do the talking, or if you’re a bowler, letting the ball do your talking. I don’t think that will ever change.”When he was out of action with his elbow injury, Bavuma sought out AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan for advice•AFP/Getty ImagesBavuma’s personal victories in this series were the result of a kind of preparation which was “a lot different to what I’ve been accustomed to”, he explained. After hurting his elbow when completing a run in an ODI against Ireland on October 4, Bavuma’s first focus was “rehab, proper rehab”, which he described as “quite painful” when he got back to South Africa. He also reached out to “guys like AB [de Villiers] who I know later part of his career had injuries that he had to deal with”, as well as “Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan to just understand how they do things differently.” De Villiers also had an elbow injury in the last year of his international career while Gayle and Sarwan are players Bavuma knows from touring West Indies, and he wanted their perspective.Then, because he continued to feel discomfort from the impact of ball on bat, he couldn’t immediately get into the best rhythm but had to find other ways to get ready for a must-win series. “From a mental point of view, I tried to find time in between the day, sitting, visualising myself when I’m playing well, how things feel, and then finding a way to live in that feeling and in that energy. And then trusting that when you’re able to hit balls, things will come as they should.”Initially, they didn’t. When Bavuma first picked up his bat, he was still unsure. “My first couple of nets weren’t that great, to be honest,” Bavuma said. “I was quite doubtful of myself, not just physically but also from a pure form point of view. And I think then you’ve just got to trust yourself, you’ve got to trust what you’ve done.”The problem, perhaps, is that when people think about what Bavuma has done (before this series), they look at things like a 10-year career with an average that has never reached 40, and an 8.7% conversion rate of fifties to hundreds. They don’t consider how many of those half-centuries were scored under extreme pressure, with a brittle batting line-up around him. So when Bavuma needed reminding of what he is capable of, he had to look inwards, to the small group of people who know him best.”For support, I lean on my family. They are my source of strength. They are people who see me as Temba the person, not Temba the cricketer or Temba the captain,” he said. “It also about having good guys around you within the team from a coaching and a playing perspective; guys who give you that belief in what you want to do.”Against Sri Lanka, Bavuma batted with an assertiveness that he hadn’t always shown earlier in his Test career•Gallo Images/Getty ImagesTest coach Shukri Conrad has repeatedly called this “Temba’s team”, and kept him in the touring party in Bangladesh even when he was ruled out of the second Test and could have returned home early. Keshav Maharaj, who took his 11th Test five-for in Sri Lanka’s innings in Gqueberha, repeatedly pointed to Bavuma in celebrating his wickets and explained that as an acknowledgement of their shared strategies working. Among his peers, who call him Malume (the isiXhosa word for uncle), there is no doubt that Bavuma is highly regarded. What this series did was also enhanced that regard for him within himself and outside of the change room as he lived up to his batting potential in particular.”It probably just strengthened the belief that I have in myself as a player,” he said. “What helped me is that there was a lot of hunger and desire from my side to put in winning performances for the team. Fortunately, the opportunity was there throughout the series and I was able to make use of it.”After a hard grind in stabilising South Africa in the first innings in Gqeberha, the rest of Bavuma’s innings took place in what felt like pockets of sunshine. He was more assertive in his strokeplay and drove, swept and hooked with confidence. As a result, his scoring rates were higher than usual and he never got into the kind of rut that had previously caused so many of his innings grind to a halt. In Durban, he said he felt he had worked out a formula to push on past fifty and all his innings seemed to show that.The next question (perhaps an unfair one in the immediate aftermath) is how does he keep that going into the festive season when South Africa take on Pakistan and beyond? “It’s also respecting the space that you’re in,” Bavuma said. “Don’t take it for granted, but also kind of enjoy it. Something that I’m also trying to learn is that even when things are not going well, to still find ways to keep enjoying your bad performances. Then, the good performances don’t shoot your emotions through the roof. Easier said than done, but that’s something that I’m trying to do.”But no one will begrudge Bavuma if he allows himself this time to feel the high as South Africa summit the WTC rankings (albeit perhaps temporarily) and soak in their success. They’ve already made sure they enjoyed the first win of the summer for as long as possible. Five hours after the Gqeberha Test ended, the team bus was still parked at the ground and the happy sounds of spontaneous whooping could be heard. It will likely go on long into the night, with the Test players off for two weeks before their next assignment, when they can start to think of how much more they can achieve.

Have your say: Will it be three quicks and two spinners for India, or the other way around?

Himanshu Agrawal13-Dec-20224:16

Jaffer: Kuldeep needs to play as third spinner ahead of Saurabh

Who will open with Rahul?
Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of the first Test, and KL Rahul will stand in as captain. He is also set to be one of the openers, with Shubman Gill and Abhimanyu Easwaran likely to compete for the other slot.Gill averages 30.47 after 11 Tests, with a best of 52 in his last 14 innings. He might have an edge over Abhimanyu, though, not least because of his superior experience at the highest level.However, Abhimanyu has scores of 141 and 157 from the two four-day games for India A in Bangladesh recently. He has been around the national set-up for a while and has an experience of 78 first-class matches, where he averages 45.33.